Differences between a Dakota 76 Rigby and non-Rigby action

[Big_Easy]

Some questions for the experts out there...

I've found a Dakota 76 LH in 338 Win Mag for a reasonable price, would it be possible to re-barrel this into something like a 450 Rigby, or a 450 Dakota, or larger? I know the bolt-face would need to be opened up, but besides that and a new barrel, what other issues would need to be considered? Are the two actions physically different otherwise? Is the amount of work to be done more extensive than I'm thinking? Would it be better to wait and find one in a larger cartridge range already and just pay significantly more? Any insight would be helpful.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Maybe someone else will chime in, but will just note that while I cannot say it’s impossible, I do not think it’s something you’ll ultimately prove happy with as you are looking at some significant machine work to alter the action. Ignoring the bolt face issue, the cartridge length differences are not insignificant. The 338WM is 3.34” OAL which jumps to 3.60” for the 375HH and up to 3.75” for the 416 and 450 Rigby. All of the later cartridges are typically made on magnum length actions, but know GMA lists their std magnum actions box magazines working for 30/06, 338win, up to and including 375HH and 404 & 500 Jeffery.

GMA advertises their next size up Express Magnum is for Lott and then their largest African Magnum is for the Rigby 416/450, 505 and 585.

Unless doing a shorter case like a 416 Ruger or 458Win, you are looking at a fair amount of action, magazine, and stock work. Then even with the wider cases, may run into capacity issues. Best way to know just feasible and extent of what’s required is to call Parkwest or whatever smith you prefer to do the work. I can’t help but think that the cost of modifying the action, bolt, stock, and then new barrel and you are looking at a pretty pricey path, even if you got the 338 at a huge discount.

 

[baxterb]

That is a profound change that would require a new magazine box and extensive work on the action. If you want a bigger cartridge a 458 win mag should be relatively straight forward though.

Have you shot the big 458s? they are no joke. A friend and former PH used a converted 425 WR to 458 Win mag for many years and moved up to a 450 Dakota. At 62 he wishes he still had the 458.

if you are settled on a big one, I would wait. You are going to pay the same in the end, either bit by bit, or all at once. Plus, by the time you mag box is settled, you will likely need a new stock.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Big Easy I think will warm to a 450 Rigby quite nicely, especially if designed with proper weight…I mean it would be at least a baby-step down from his 505 Gibbs.

I continue to lust after a 450 Rigby. Today I think you’d have an easier time finding brass, maybe even some ammo in the Rigby vs Dakota. And with its popularity only seeming to build…albeit slowly…can only expect it would be easier still in 5-10 years. That said, I did see some 450 Dakota ammo here in Alaska last month. Only 3-4 dust covered boxes, but still a surprise.

Think your goal sounds awesome, just not sure that the 338wm is the correct base to step from. Now a steal of a deal on a 338wm Dakota, that in itself sounds temping, but I’m also a 338wm fan.

 

[baxterb]

I'll add this.... I was at D'Arcy Echol's shop once and he showed me a LH 450 Rigby he was making on an FZH. that action was ordered without the underside being cut at all so he could do 100% of the millwork himself to get it right. And this was a double square bridge (front bridge eventually removed) magnum action.

Just enjoy the 338 and keep looking...

 

[Altitude sickness]

Many decree that the big bore DG rifle MUST be CRF

How many rifles bolt faces have had so much material ground away that it barely resembles a CRF with very thin peices of metal holding the case ?

A lot.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Stay away from unobtainable brass like that for the Dakota cartridges. Proper headstamped brass is required for entry in many African countries. It can be a logistics nightmare finding a lifetime supply of Dakota brass!

A .450 Rigby isn't common but it is common enough and brass is available The .450 Rigby drawing below shows it's overall length (OAL) as 3.750".

This drawing is of the .338 Win with an OAL of 3.340". The .410" extra length of the 450 Dakota is huge in reference to opening up an action for it. Also the Rigby bolt face of .590" is .058" larger than the common belted magnum bolt face of .532".

Opening up the bolt face is probably doable. Opening up the action .410" is probably not. Even opening up the action for a .458 Lott with OAL of 3.60", or .30" is challenging!

My retired gunsmith showed me an action that he had cut and lengthen for a collector. I forget the details... The bolt body? I think he used a longer body or something. Whatever it was the eccentric collector have to pay for the work. That is NOT what I'd recommend to anyone who hasn't won the Power Ball lottery!

Along with extensive gunsmithing on the action, a new magazine is required. The $500 for that would be a drop in the bucket compared the entire job!

How about the Mighty .458 Win at the same length and bolt face the .338 Win? Our member @michael458 has worked up and tested .458 Win loads with 450 and 400 grain bullets. Those loads are very impressive and take the Mighty .458 into a whole new world of versatility! And don't forget about the .416 Taylor...

 

[uplander01]

Not the right size action from Dakota to go that big, it would have to be the African action which is what Dakota built the rigby and formerly their big 450 on I believe. You could go right to a 458 though. I had a safari actioned 458 for a while and it was a fantastic rifle

 

[Altitude sickness]

Or you could bite the bullet on one ready to go. With approximately a $2000 scope

Dakota Arms 76 African PH .450 Rigby for sale

Dakota Arms 76 African PH .450 Rigby for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

 

[RR 314]

I don’t know if Dakota used a standard action for the .338 (I have seen others use standard or magnum length for .338 magnum). Here is the difference between the two Dakota action lengths. Even if built on the larger action, I still would not attempt for reasons referenced above.

My .450 Rigby is one of my favorite rifles, but it is properly built/weighted etc.

 

[Jefferry404]

fwiw, I have a 458 Lott and 338 winmag built on Dakota arms actions, circa 2010 (i got from Brownells sometime back), their Model 70 with integral lug. The bolt throw and right side opening are the same, at 6.2"and 3.17". I also have a Dakota 30-06 action in the white same dimensions as above, mag box length is 3.4". When I ordered the 30-06, thought was getting std action length but.... got a big action.
As mentioned, the mag. box, follower, rails and are size for the cartridge but the action is the same size in the Model 70.
You should be able to get the parts from ParkWest.
Cartridge sizes (per a member here) from Parkwest:
500A^2 is largest round, not to shabby
416 Rigby
375/404
30-60, etc.

 

[rookhawk]

Some questions for the experts out there...

I've found a Dakota 76 LH in 338 Win Mag for a reasonable price, would it be possible to re-barrel this into something like a 450 Rigby, or a 450 Dakota, or larger? I know the bolt-face would need to be opened up, but besides that and a new barrel, what other issues would need to be considered? Are the two actions physically different otherwise? Is the amount of work to be done more extensive than I'm thinking? Would it be better to wait and find one in a larger cartridge range already and just pay significantly more? Any insight would be helpful.

Dakota has several magnum actions that are perfectly designed for the cartridges. The one used for the 375HH and 458WM is not the same as the 416 Rigby / 450 Rigby action. You'll never be happy with a conversion of one to the other, the feed, drop magazine, bottom metal, follower, bolt face, ramp....all different.

 

[Jefferry404]

@RR 314
When I ordered the 30-06 action, I got their African floorplate and i guess, probably only available on the magnum action?
Steve

 

[RR 314]

@RR 314
When I ordered the 30-06 action, I got their African floorplate and i guess, probably only available on the magnum action?
Steve

You are probably correct. I have never owned a .338 (on a Dakota action). I just have seen others build on a std. action length.

 

[Jefferry404]

Spoke with Parkwest. Sounds like 4 action lengths, short, std, 375 magnum and the rigby size.

 

[rookhawk]

Spoke with Parkwest. Sounds like 4 action lengths, short, std, 375 magnum and the rigby size.

And probably about 8 bottom metals. The deep box used on the African (Dark Continent) and the flush used on the Safari (Savannah), plus whatever they put as options on the lesser smallbore grades like the Alpine, etc.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Some questions for the experts out there...

I've found a Dakota 76 LH in 338 Win Mag for a reasonable price, would it be possible to re-barrel this into something like a 450 Rigby, or a 450 Dakota, or larger? I know the bolt-face would need to be opened up, but besides that and a new barrel, what other issues would need to be considered? Are the two actions physically different otherwise? Is the amount of work to be done more extensive than I'm thinking? Would it be better to wait and find one in a larger cartridge range already and just pay significantly more? Any insight would be helpful.

B_Easy, if really wanting a lefty Dakota action to build into larger magnum, this isn’t a 450 Rigby, but also isn’t “not” cool. Sorry, had to work in the positive double-negative. Looks interesting at the very least and significantly less than you could build it for. No ties to the gun, just stumbled by it.

Ed LaPour Custom Dakota 76

 

[Muskox]

Dakota Arms 76 African PH .450 Rigby for sale

Dakota Arms 76 African PH .450 Rigby for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

You really would have to want that for $13,000

You could piecemeal one together and save some cash.

 

[KCSafari]

There is a very nice LH Dakota 76 in 416 Rigby coming up for auction I would consider.
Dan Morphy Auctions

 

[Big_Easy]

Spoke with Parkwest. Sounds like 4 action lengths, short, std, 375 magnum and the rigby size.

Thanks for the info, and for calling Parkwest. The shop owner got back to me and took some measurements of the box and the receiver port. It looks to be the standard size action for the 338 win mag. So prob too much work to be done. I actually have a Rigby 76 LH action that I bought on here about 6 months ago, and was able to measure the mag box and receiver to compare too. I was looking for another one to build a nice pair of rifles .